The MOMU Mootorispordi Muuseum was the only racing museum in Estonia, a country that isn’t particularly associated with motorsports outside of rallying but was a prominent name during the Soviet period. However, this niche was among the reasons for its closure in August as poor visitor numbers made it unfeasible to pay for upkeep.

On Monday, Eesti Rahvusringhääling reported that museum director Arno Sillat is selling part of the collection.

“I don’t want to leave a seed behind that might spark the urge to start again,” he told ERR. “[Running the museum] was done for a long time. we did it ourselves and financed it ourselves. But nothing in life lasts forever.”

Located at the former Ellamaa electrical plant in Turba, the MOMU Motorsport Museum opened in April 2018. It had navigated through multiple crises such as COVID-19 and rising electricity prices, but couldn’t survive the decline in tourism. The local populace was unable to offset the losses due to rising costs of living.

The multi-floor museum boasted 252 vehicles across a multitude of disciplines that showcased Estonia’s racing history. Kavor Motorsport, who built formula cars for the Soviet championship as well as post-independence models, was prominently featured. Lada, being the most popular manufacturer of the Eastern Bloc, had plenty of representation too such as touring cars and rally cars like Aare Klooren and Toomas Kreek’s Samara. Others included karts, motorcycles, and even boats and jet-skis.

Sillat noted that the interested buyers in the collection was about a 50–50 split between Estonian and foreign. Others memorabilia was given to his children or donated to other museums like the Eesti Spordi- ja Olümpiamuuseum (Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum).

It also had a 73-meter garden in the shape of the Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit, a street course in Tallinn that was used for Tourist Trophy races. Designed by Eveli Ustav, the garden garnered much praise for its beauty and design and contributed greatly to the museum’s visitorship.

MOMU closed to the public on August 31, 2025, though private appointments were permitted for September 13–14.

Featured image credit: MOMU Mootorispordi Muuseum